Managing a Virtual Access Point in a Wireless Network

Abstract

An access point may create a virtual access point based on a connection request message from a wireless device. The wireless device may communicate with a computing device via the virtual access point. The computing device may send information about the access point to the wireless device. The wireless device may connect to the access point, for example, using the information.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 receiving, by an access point and from a wireless device, a message indicating a type of the wireless device;   creating, based on the type of the wireless device, a virtual access point corresponding to the wireless device;   causing the wireless device to connect to the virtual access point;   determining whether the wireless device is connected to the virtual access point; and   connecting the access point to the wireless device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the message comprises information relating to security associated with the wireless device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, from the wireless device, information relating to security associated with the wireless device,   wherein the creating the virtual access point further comprises creating, based on the information, the virtual access point.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining is based on a response message sent from the virtual access point to the wireless device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving, from a computing device, information relating to the virtual access point, wherein the information comprises a service set identifier of the virtual access point. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising destroying, after creating the virtual access point, the virtual access point, wherein the destroying the virtual access point is based on receiving no additional messages from at least one wireless device for a pre-determined amount of time. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining, based on a media access control address of the wireless device, whether to allow the wireless device to connect to the virtual access point. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving, from a computing device, at least one media access control address of at least one wireless device. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , the connecting is based on receiving, from the wireless device, information associated with the access point. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the message further comprises information relating to at least one parameter of the wireless device. 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising:
 sending, by a wireless device and to an access point, at least one message, wherein the at least one message comprises a type of the wireless device;   receiving, from a virtual access point, a response message, wherein the response message indicates that the wireless device is connected to the virtual access point;   sending, to a computing device and via the virtual access point, information relating to at least one parameter of the wireless device;   receiving, from the computing device and via the virtual access point, information associated with the access point; and   connecting, based on receiving the information associated with the access point, the wireless device to the access point.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the information associated with the access point comprises a service set identifier and a password of the access point. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one message comprises a media access control address of the wireless device. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the information relating to at least on parameter of the wireless device comprises credential information associated with the wireless device. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising disconnecting, after receiving the information associated with the access point, from the virtual access point. 
     
     
         16 . A method comprising:
 receiving, by a computing device and from a wireless device via a virtual access point, at least one parameter of the wireless device;   determining, based on receiving the at least one parameter from the wireless device, whether the wireless device is associated the access point; and   sending, to the wireless device and via the virtual access point, information associated with the access point.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the information associated with the access point comprises a service set identifier and a password of the access point. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising sending, by the computing device and to the access point, information relating to parameters of at least one virtual access point, wherein the information relating to the parameters of the virtual access point comprises a service set identifier of the at least one virtual access point. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising establishing a secure connection for communication with the wireless device. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising receiving, from the access point, an acknowledgment message, based on sending information relating to parameters of at least one virtual access point.